Only one in four Irish motorists are planing to take advantage of lower insurance costs by adding a second driver to their policy.

Despite even greater discounts for those adding their partners, just over a quarter describe themselves as very likely to add another driver to in an attempt to reduce their motor insurance costs, reports Dublin Live.

A new AA Car Insurance study of 3,000 drivers found that 27.74% of respondents stated that they were very likely to add another driver to their policy in the future.

Meanwhile, an additional 9.67% of those surveyed stated they were “somewhat likely” to add another name to their policy.

The switch has bee there all along (Image: Getty)

Conor Faughnan, AA Director of Consumer Affairs said: “When it comes to steps you can take to help reduce the cost of motor insurance, adding another driver to your policy is a step that many Irish motorists overlook,

"While it is important that whoever you add to your policy has a driver record as clean or better than yours, adding a partner to your policy can result in a discount of up to 20% depending on your insurer.”

However, the person you’re adding to your policy does not necessarily have to be a partner. For younger drivers still living at home, adding one of their parents to their policy as a named driver can help to make getting on the road more affordable,” he added.

The survey found that women were significantly more likely than men to consider adding another driver to their policy in the future.

The driver showed the handbag a good time (Image: Getty)

While just 22.81% of male respondents stated they were “very likely” to add another driver to their policy in the future, 31.61% of women surveyed admitted they were “very likely” to do so.

“Adding a partner or someone who you live and are in a committed relationship with, irrespective of their gender or whether or not you're actually married, to your policy will result in the greatest discount as those in committed relationships fall into a lower risk category than those who are not when it comes to calculating premiums,” Faughnan added.

“In addition, if your partner also has a car of their own this will help maximise the discount you receive when adding them to your insurance policy.”

Younger drivers were also found to be the most likely to consider adding another driver to their policy in the future. 52.70% of respondents aged between 17 and 24 and 35.38% of those aged between 25 and 35 described themselves as “very likely” to add another name to their policy.